Government unlikely to seek review of Supreme Court order on NJAC

New Delhi: Government is unlikely to rush seeking a review of the Supreme Court verdict which overturned its law on appointment of judges to higher judiciary but would put forth its views on ways to improve the collegium system when the apex court takes up the matter next month.

A day after the apex court termed as unconstitutional the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act and a related Constitutional Amendment Act, the issues of filing a review and giving the Supreme Court suggestions on how the collegium system, which staged a comeback after the ruling, can be improved were discussed at a meeting Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda held with his ministry officials here today.

Sources in the government said that seeking a review of the verdict is "almost ruled out".

They said a final decision will be taken after more deliberations.

A final decision on what exactly government wants to convey to the apex court on collegium system would be taken after Gowda discusses the issue with senior cabinet colleagues and the Prime Minister.

Since Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi was not present in today's meeting and Gowda would also seek his views on the issue.

At the Supreme Court hearing on November 3, government would suggest changes that would ensure the independence of the judiciary while at the same time taking care of its view that 'judges appointing judges' is not the best practice.

As part of its strategy to deal with the verdict, government could also convene an all-party meeting to take everyone along on the key legislation.

If the all-party meeting is convened ahead of the winter session of parliament, it is expected to evolve a consensus given the fact that the legislation was first brought by the previous NDA government, later pushed by UPA dispensation and finally cleared by parliament last year.

The NDA government suffered a setback yesterday with the Supreme Court striking down as unconstitutional NJAC Act which gives a major role to the executive in appointing judges to higher judiciary.

The ambitious National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 to replace the 22-year-old collegium system of judges appointing judges was struck down by a five-judge Constitution Bench.